norite

American  

[nawr-ahyt] / ˈnɔr aɪt /

noun

1. a granular igneous rock consisting of a mix of light and dark minerals, the former being calcic plagioclase feldspars, and the latter orthorhombic pyroxenes.

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norite British  

/ ˈnɔːraɪt /

noun

1. a variety of gabbro composed mainly of hypersthene and labradorite feldspar

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norite Scientific  

/ nôr′īt /

1. See gabbro

2. A coarse-grained igneous rock, very similar to gabbro but containing orthopyroxene instead of clinopyroxene.

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Other Word Forms

• noritic adjective

Etymology

Origin of norite

From the Norwegian word norit, dating back to 1875–80. See Norway, -ite ¹

Example Sentences

The researchers used a method called atom probe tomography to confirm the age of the oldest-known solids that formed after the giant impact, the zircon crystals inside the fragment of a type of rock called norite collected by Schmitt.

From Reuters

“So we gave them one”: a two-centimeter-wide square of an igneous rock called norite that is one of 12 such targets on the rover.

From Scientific American

Mī′norite, a Franciscan friar.—adj. belonging to the Franciscans.—n.

From Project Gutenberg

In Canada great portions of the eastern portion of the Dominion are formed of gabbros, norite, anorthosite and allied rock types.

From Project Gutenberg

Hornblende-gabbros are distinctly rare, except when the hornblende has been developed from pyroxene by pressure and shearing, but many rocks may be described as hornblende- or biotite-bearing gabbro and norite, when they contain these ingredients in addition to the normal minerals plagioclase, augite and hypersthene.

From Project Gutenberg